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Bush Elementary School Data Teams Review Information

Bush Elementary School second grade teachers meet with reading and special education teachers collaborate to help children succeed in reading.

Bush Elementary School teachers are collaborating with the school’s reading teachers, JoAnne Galbier, Carrie Blitz, and Jackie Daigler, as well as the special education teachers Katie Cieslewicz (K-2) and Maura Domagola (3-4) to target instruction to best benefit each child at Bush School. Teachers at every grade level meet once a month with the entire reading department and special education teachers to assess and share ideas about how to help each child become successful at reading.

“We are trying to take a collaborative approach to education,” said Bush Elementary School second grade teacher Jill Smith. “These meetings are my favorite initiative that we are doing so far this year. It keeps kids from slipping through the cracks. For example, there are eight teachers watching each child in my grade level. It feels like we are all in this together for a common goal ? to see each child succeed in reading.”

After the students are assessed in the classroom and in small groups, the grade level meets with the reading and special education teachers to look at student data and determine the student’s next step on the reading continuum. Then, each teacher takes a group of students and works on those very specific skills. Students are reassessed monthly. The smaller groups are flexible and change monthly. The goal of their instruction is to constantly be moving students along the reading continuum, which means the groups are ever-changing in response to the data. Sometimes students may need a smaller group, more time with a skill, or a different instructional approach. The expectation is that all students will be successful.

“It really is a great place for us to share ideas. We all have similar training but our own unique experiences and strengths work together and truly benefit the students,” said Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Galbier adds, “As a reading teacher, we serve kindergarten through fourth grades and it can be hard to meet with every grade level as much as we would like to. The monthly meetings allow us to collaborate with grade level teachers, share student successes and concerns so that we can all make decisions that will best meet the needs of all our Bush students.”

The monthly meetings consist of assessing students reading data, sharing ideas and creating the flexible, small groups for instruction. It is also a great place for early intervention. Teachers are much more informed and can provide data, track interventions that have been used, and know what has worked and what has not. This piece is vital when attending a Child Study Team meeting to talk about a possible disability with a child.

“We really appreciate that our Principal Mr. Bracey gave us the time and opportunity to do these grade level groups. During these data meetings, our school counselor, Alexandra Peterson has an opportunity to provide our students with character education group lessons,” said Mrs. Smith. “We are seeing positive results from our collaboration, both with students and with teachers feeling good about working together, which is nothing but great news for our students.”

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